Agricultural Marketing Information Network (http://agmarknet.nic.in) AGMARKNET Agricultural Marketing Information Network (http://agmarknet.nic.in)

OBJECTIVES To establish a nationwide information network for speedy collection and dissemination of market information and data for its efficient and timely utilization. To facilitate collection and dissemination of information related to better price realization by the farmers. Market related info such as market fee, market charges etc. Price related info – min, max, modal prices and arrivals. Infra related info - facilities and services available to farmers. To sensitize and orient farmers to respond to new challenges and to improve efficiency in Agri marketing through regular training.

Implementation Plan Organisations involved in execution of the scheme. Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI) State Agricultural Marketing Boards (SAMB)/Departments Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC) National Informatics Centre (NIC) Beneficiaries : Farmers, Traders, Exporters, Processors, Govt. Departments, Planners, Researchers, Agri-business firms, Commodity Exchanges etc.

Agmarknet Scheme commenced in March 2000. Markets connected with computerized network till 31st March 2014 – 3241. Principal Market Yards - 2416 Sub Market Yards - 825 Database created covering 300 commodities and 2000 varieties. Networking involves providing hardware, software, connectivity and training to each market node. New Markets to be covered during XII Plan – 3700.

Number of Markets covered (State wise) State/UT No. of markets covered Not Reported Not Repoted Andhra Pradesh 354 48 Kerala 92 10 Arunachal Pradesh 15 Madhya Pradesh 267 107 Assam 23 8 Maharashtra 361 157 Bihar 58 - Manipur 5 1 Chhattisgarh 184 3 Meghalaya 20 13 Goa 9 Mizoram Gujarat 319 176 Nagaland 22 14 Haryana 150 62 Odisha 106 26 Himachal Pradesh 41 Punjab 199 4 Jammu & Kashmir 35 27 Rajasthan 166 30 Jharkhand 2 Sikkim 7 Karnataka 192 55 Tamil Nadu

Number of Markets covered (state wise) – Contd.. State/UT No. of markets covered Not Reported Tripura 21 12 Uttar Pradesh 257 97 Uttarakhand 25 7 West Bengal 76 32 Andaman Nikobar 01 Dadara Nagar Haveli 1 Daman Diu 02 2 NCT of Delhi 09 Puducherry 04 Total 3241

Information through SMS Price information available on the Agmarknet portal is shared with IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL) and Nokia. IKSL is providing the price information to the farmers through Voice Mail and SMS through Mobile Phones free of cost in 18 states in 11 regional languages who have registered with them – daily 10 lakh SMS.

Information through SMS Price information can also be obtained through e-Alert on Agmarknet portal (http://ealert.agmarknet.nic.in) Farmers can register his mobile number giving personal details requesting price information of 3 commodities in 3 markets of his choice. The information provided to farmers free of cost. SAMBs, Marketing Department, APMCs have to take a proactive role in popularising this facility.

Information through SMS Farmers visiting the APMCs may contact the Secretary of the APMC for registering their mobile phone to obtain the price information through SMS from Agmarknet portal. The Secretary of the APMC may sensitize the farmers to avail the facility of price information through SMS by erecting banners at prominent places in the market. The MD/Secretary of the SAMB, Director of Agricultural Marketing may instruct all the Secretaries of APMCs to popularize this service available for the benefit of the farmers.

Data Reporting DMI has introduced the incentive of Rs.500/- per month for Data Entry Operators for uploading the information on Agmarknet portal for more than 20 days in a month. Incentive enhanced to Rs.1000/- per month w.e.f. 01.04.2014. Problems in Data Reporting DEOs are not uploading the data on daily basis – instead uploading 2-3 days at a time. Modal price not entered correctly – instead average of minimum & maximum price shown as modal price. Modal price shall be the price at which the maximum number of transactions takes place. Some APMCs are not reporting the data on portal.

Data Reporting – Contd.. Lack of monitoring by the Secretary of APMC, Officials of the SAMB/Deptt. at district and state level. Any technical problems in hardware - the APMC officials should contact the Vendor/ DMI/ NIC for solving the problem and request for replacement of the computer only after 5-6 years. Any problem in software should be reported to DIO of NIC, DMI and SAMB/Deptt. Any problem in internet connectivity should be sorted out at the APMC /SAMB/Deptt. Level. The information should flow continuously without any interruption.

Measures for improvement Secretary of APMC should ensure that data on arrival/prices in the market is uploaded by the DEO everyday latest by 5 pm and verify the correctness. The officers of SAMB/Deptt. should monitor the data reporting by the APMCs at district/division/state level. DEOs should enter the Modal Price of the commodity correctly not the average of minimum and maximum price. Secretary of APMC/officials of SAMB/Deptt. should sort out the problems of hardware/ software/ internet connectivity at their level with the help of local NIC/DMI offices. DMI ROs/SOs should monitor the data reporting by the APMCs on daily basis.

THANKS